[Soil microfauna diversity among Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations based on pyrosequencing]

Area of Science:

• Soil Ecology
• Microbial Ecology
• Forestry Science

Background:

• Soil microfauna play crucial roles in ecosystem functions and respond to environmental shifts.
• Understanding soil microfauna community structure is vital for assessing forest health and dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate soil microfauna diversity and community structure in Cunninghamia lanceolate plantations.
• To identify how microfauna composition varies with tree age and ecological succession.
• To explore relationships between soil microfauna and soil physicochemical properties.

Main Methods:

• Metagenome analysis of the 18S rDNA gene region was employed.
• Fifteen soil samples from five Cunninghamia lanceolate plantations of varying ages (3, 13, 26 years) and successions were analyzed.
• Diversity indices (ACE, Shannon, Simpson) and Jaccard's similarity coefficient were calculated.

Main Results:

• Dominant microfauna groups included Chordata, Annelida, Arthropoda, Nematoda, Rotifera, and Platyhelminthes.
• Significant differences in microfauna diversity (ACE and Shannon indices) were found among plantations.
• The 13-year-old plantation of the first ecological succession exhibited the lowest soil microfauna diversity.
• Available potassium concentration was negatively correlated with the Chaol index, but other soil properties showed no significant correlation with diversity indices.

Conclusions:

• Soil microfauna diversity and community structure are significantly influenced by plantation age and ecological succession in Cunninghamia lanceolate forests.
• Specific soil physicochemical properties, like available potassium, may impact microfauna composition.
• Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex interactions between soil microfauna and environmental factors.